World of Wonders

Gr 2—6—This refreshingly upbeat collection of random facts about Earth's creatures and natural wonders is accompanied by startlingly beautiful photographs. Each spread asks a question, such as, "What is the most dangerous animal?" or "What is the biggest cavern?" The answer (printed upside down beneath the question) is then followed by a short explanation or description of an unusual aspect of the animal or phenomenon. Some of the answers are simple enough to verge on misleading—not all aurora borealis are green and the African cape porcupine can not have a bear as a predator. However, the interest in the beauty and mystery of natural wonders, as well as the introduction to children of unusual facts and concepts that this work encourages, compensates for some editorial impreciseness. This is strictly a book for browsing. There is no access to specific topics; there is no index, and the contents page lists only the questions.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY